A question of absurdity "There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy." So begins Albert Camus (1913-60) in The Myth of Sisyphus (1942). He stiffens the dose by quoting Nietzsche: "a philosopher, to deserve our respect, must preach by example."

But then, Camus at once sees that "a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying." In either case, a sacrifice might be at stake. The question is - must life have a meaning to be lived? He concludes no, in view of the absurd, "it will be lived all the better if it has no meaning."

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